Draft gear



@ciko 9 9 3923 H. C. PRKEBE 2 sheets-sheet 1r mm'm mm DRAFT GEAR Filed Dec. 12

H. G. PRIIEBE DRAFT GEAR 2 shets Sheet 2 Filefi Dec. 12. 1922 Patented (let. 9, i923.

lAZtMdtl HERD/IAN G. PRIEBE, OF BLUE ISLAND, ILLINOIS.

DRAFT GEAR.

Application filed December 12, 1922.

To rzZZ w/zomz't may concern.

lie it known that l, Hnmuan C. Prunes, citizen of the l i'iited States, residing at Blue island, in the county of Cook and State of Tllinois, have invented a certain new and useful lmprovement in Draft Gears, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to draft gears and has for its objects the provision of an improvement in the construction of motion resisting mechanism and the means for carrying the same. A draft gear carrying out both objects of my invention includes a coupler having a yoke one of whose sides carries two outwardly facing spring receiving sockets whose bottoms are upon the inner end of the yoke; two longitudinal springs, each socket having a spring therein, an outer follower enclosed by the yoke, and lever mechanism interposed between and engaging said follower and springs. The preferred form of lever mechanism comprises a rocker having engagement with the inner end of the follower, the inner end of the yoke, and also with the outer ends of the springs.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a plan view of the pref erred form of gear shown in assembly with the center or draft sills, parts being broken away and parts being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a. sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3--3 of Fig. i; Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of yoke; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the preferred form of rocker; Fig. 6 is a sectional. view on line 66 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the preferred form of outer follower.

l'like parts are indirnted. by similar charactors of reference throughout the different figures.

The center or other draft sills 1, 2 are assembled in any suitable way with the body of the gear as is understood by those skilled in the art. The draft gear of my invention is interposed between these sills. This draft gear includes a coupler having a stem 3 and a yoke 4-. The stem is formed with a transverse horizontal key slot therethrough and at the inner end thereof while the outer end of the yoke is formed with similar slots 6 and 7 which are aligned with the slot in the stem. A key 8 is passed through all of Serial No. 606,523.

these slots which, with the exception of the slot in the stem, are all longer than the width of the key so that the key may move longitudinally of the yoke in the operation of the gear. This key also passes through slots 9 formed in the center sills, these slots being also longer than the width of the key to permit the key to move longitudinally of the center sills.

The coupler yoke is generally of U-form with one side thereof above the other. A mo tion limiting block 10 is riveted to and between the center sills and is engaged by the inner end of the yoke to limit the extent to which the yoke may be moved inwardly. An outer follower 12 is surrounded or enclosed by the yoke and is engageable by the coupler butt to be moved inwardly thereby. Cheek plates 13 and 14 are at the forward end of the gear and are engaged by the follower 12 to limit the extent of the outward movement of the follower.

A carrier iron 15 is bolted to the center sills and underlies and supports the inner end of the yoke. The carrier iron 16 is likewise bolted to the center sills and underlies and supports the outer end of the yoke. The yoke carries two outwardly faced. spring receiving sockets 17, 18 whose bottoms are upon the inner end of the yoke. There are two longitudinally disposed springs or sets of springs 19 and 20, each socket having a spring therein. A rocker 21 is also enclosed by the yoke, this rocker having engagement with the inner end ofthe follower, the in nor end of the yoke, and also with the outer ends of the aforesaid springs. The rocker desirably has convex surfaces where it is in engagement with the co-operating parts of the gear. thereby constituting the preferred form of lever mechanism interposed between the follower on the one side and the inner end. of the yoke and the springs on the other side.

YVhile I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. but having thus described my invention it claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patcut the following 1. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler having a yoke one of whose sides carries two outwardly facing spring receiving sockets whose bottoms are upon the inner end of the yoke; of two longitudinal springs, each socket having a spring therein; an outer follower enclosed by the yoke; and a rocker having engagement with the inner end of the aforesaid follower, the inner end of the yoke, and also with the outer ends of the aforesaid springs.

2. In a draft gear, the combination with a coupler having a yoke one of whose sides carries two outwardly facing spring receiving sockets whose bottoms are upon the inner end of the yoke; of two longitudinal springs each socket having a spring therein; an outer follower enclosed by the yoke; and a rocker having engagement with the inner end of the aforesaid follower, the inner end of the yoke, and also with the outer ends of the aforesaid springs, the parts of the rocker engaging the follower and yoke having convex surfaces.

3. In a draft gear the combination with a coupler having a yoke one of whose sides carries two outwardly facing spring receiving sockets whose bottoms are upon the inner end of the yoke; of two longitudinal springs, ea ch socket having a spring therein an outer follower enclosed by the yoke; and lever mechanism interposed between and engaging said follower and springs.

Tn witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 6th day of December, A.D.

HERMAN o. PRIEBE. 

